Kelly Flynn—accountant by day, sleuth by . . . well, anytime there’s a murder in Fort Connor, Colorado—is once again drawn in by a death near her favorite knit shop, Lambspun. A financial advisor who bilked half the town of its savings is found dead in his sports car. This entry, the first of a two-parter, seems a little tired. There’s less knitting, and seemingly less sleuthing. Much of the focus is on preteen Cassie, who has come to live with Kelly’s friends. When the book ends, a forest fire is raging, so the sequel will hop right into an inferno. For series fans. Includes a recipe and a knitting pattern. (From Booklist.)

Quiet Kismet, Pennsylvania, may look like any other small town, but as a home stager, Caprice De Luca can see behind closed doors--and it seems someone has designs on murder. . .Life is a full house for Caprice these days. She's dating, she's rescuing adorable cocker spaniels, and she's decorating the roomy interiors of Kismet's most well-heeled residents with fun fantasy themes. But she's worried about her pregnant sister. Bella's marriage is coming apart like a bad wallpaper job, and to make matters worse, she's decided to meet up with a former flame Bob Preston, a house painter Caprice frequently employs. When he's found dead in a pool of green paint swirling with blood, it's time for Caprice to stage an investigation. With all eyes trained on Bella's husband, Caprice shifts her attention from finding the perfect curtains to finding the perfect culprit.